Starting with our production of “Richard II” and continuing on with our Spring production of “The Importance of Being Earnest,” Seattle Shakespeare Company and Shakespeare Walla Walla are embarking on a partnership to bring professional classical theatre productions to Eastern Washington.
“I’m thrilled that we’ll be returning to Walla Walla with our indoor productions,” says SSC’s Artistic Director George Mount. In the summer of 2008, Seattle Shakespeare Company transferred its outdoor production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” to Walla Walla to play at the Fort Walla Walla Amphitheatre and out of that initial effort Shakespeare Walla Walla was created. Since then the city has gone on to build a new indoor performing arts venue, the Gesa Power House Theatre. “We were the inaugural production at the Gesa Power House Theatre with our production of “The Merry Wives of Windsor,” but we’ve not been back to bring another one of our mainstage shows since that time. With the transfer of our productions of “Richard II” and “The Importance of Being Earnest” as well as a presentation of our collaboration on “Such Sweet Thunder Suite” with Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra, it’s wonderful to bring our work to Eastern Washington.
“This renewed partnership with Seattle Shakespeare Company helps us expand our programming and outreach,” says Shakespeare Walla Walla Executive Director Ron Williams. “We bring high-quality entertainment to the community, offer more shows in a variety of genres and have more time to focus on our education efforts. With some shows, we’ll be adding a Friday morning performance just for our local schools.”
Seattle Shakespeare Company’s production of “Richard II” will play at the Gesa Power House Theatre February 6-9 and “The Importance of Being Earnest” by Oscar Wilde will perform April 16-20. “Such Sweet Thunder Suite,” Duke Ellington’s 12-part suite inspired by Shakespeare’s works, will be performed in Spring 2014.
Tickets to the Walla Walla performances are available online or by calling (509) 529-6500. Visitor information about Walla Walla is available at www.wallawalla.org.